Christmas is a time of hope.  We celebrate the 1^st Coming of Christ.  Something about a baby in a manger gets to all of us.  Deep inside, we also hope for His 2^nd coming.  The first time Jesus came was to start His Church.  The 2^nd time He comes will be to take His Church home.  We are told to be ready because we do not know when it will be.  Hope is all about living with expectancy. Hope is very important.  When we lose hope, we feel lost. When we feel lost, life gets unbearable.